Birth plans are very helpful and even more so if you're birthing in Korea where you may not speak the language and the culture may be very different. Here in Korea, the doctor is all-knowing and patients don't ask questions. The doctor is the expert and does whatever he or she sees fit. Sitting down with your doctor and having them read, sign, and stamp your birth plan will help you both. This link and this link have more info.
Get at least two copies (one for you and one for your doctor) and have them in both English and Korean (get a friend to help or if all else fails use Google Translate). Bring it to the hospital with you. If necessary, when you're in labor you can point out (in Korean) what the doctor has agreed to when the nurse comes over and tries to do something that you don't want.
You might decide to change hospitals if your doctor doesn't agree most of your requests. Enemas, shaving, episiotomies, laboring on your back with IVs and epidurals are common here. As are C-sections, with the national average around 30%, which is similar to the USA.
Every hospital is different and even within hospitals, doctors have different ideas. If you're trying to avoid a C-section, knowing your doctor's C-section rate is important. Also ask about your hospital C-section rate since you might not always get your doctor for the birth.
Useful Links and Sample Birth Plans
Here's a list of hospitals and clinics that foreigners have gone to. Here's a list of doulas, breastfeeding counselors, and childbirth educators. Below you can find Earthy Mama Angel Baby's Birth Plan. I also have more sample birth plans on my birthing plans for Korea post. I don't deserve credit for any of them as I haven't written any of them. I've linked to them as well as copied and pasted them in the posts.
Earthy Mama Angel Baby's Birth Plan
This was taken from Earthy Mama Angel Baby.
Personal Information
Your Name
Partner's Name
Due Date Address
My Doctor
Hospital
Before Labor Begins
□ As long as the baby and I are healthy, I would like to go at least 10 to 14 days over my due date before inducing labor.
□ As long as the baby and I are healthy, I would like to have no time restrictions on the length of my pregnancy.
□ I would like to discuss laboring at home as long as possible.
□ I trust that my practitioner will seek out my opinion concerning all of the issues directly affecting my birth before deviating from my plan.
□ If NST observation becomes necessary after my due date, I am flexible and support this procedure.
□ I would like to discuss the option of induction before I reach my due date.
□ If I go past my due date and the baby and I are fine, I prefer to go into labor naturally rather than be induced.
Vaginal Exams
□ Please obtain my permission before stripping my membranes during a vaginal exam. I prefer to have no vaginal exams until I go into labor.
□ I prefer to have only one vaginal exam on or around my due date.
□ During a vaginal exam, I prefer at no time to have my membranes broken unless there is an emergency situation.
□ I prefer minimal internal vaginal exams or at my request only.
□ I would like no internal vaginal exams, within reason, during my labor until I have an urge to push.
Hospital Admittance
□ I would like the option of staying in the hospital regardless of my dilation and the discussion of induction.
□ If I am less than four centimeters dilated, I would like to discuss with my healthcare provider the option of going home.
Induction
□ If induction becomes necessary, I would like to try natural induction techniques first (with the guidance of my practitioner)
Natural induction techniques I would like to try (check all that apply)
□ Breast stimulation
□ Walking
□ Herbs
□ Enema
□ Castor oil
□ Chiropractic
□ Acupuncture
□ Sexual intercourse
If Medical induction becomes necessary, I prefer to try (check all that apply)
□ Stripping membranes
□ Prostaglandin gels
□ Pitocin
□ Rupturing membranes
If my water breaks before I go into labor, I would like to
□ wait 6 hours before being induced
□ wait 12 hours before being induced
□ talk to my practitioner about alternatives to treatments such as antibiotics
Environment
□ Upon arrival at the hospital, I prefer to have my partner with me at all times.
□ Please, no residents or students attending my birth.
□ I request the following people to be present during my labor and/or 2nd stage labor ____________________________________
□ Please do not allow the following people: _____________________
I prefer to give birth in a
□ Birthing room
□ Room with a shower and/or bath
□ Delivery room
□ At home
If birth equipment is available, I would like to use (check all that apply)
□ Birthing bed
□ Birthing ball
□ Bean bag chair
□ Birthing tub/pool/shower
□ Birthing stool
□ Squatting bar
Miscellaneous environment items (check all that apply)
□ I would like to have dimmed lights.
□ I would like for people entering the room to speak softly.
□ I would like to play music.
□ I would like no one to speak during the actual delivery.
□ I would like to wear hospital clothing.
□ I would like to wear my own clothes during labor and delivery. I would like to be reminded to remove my clothing during the actual delivery.
□ I would like to have a TV available.
□ I would like to have a VCR available.
□ I would like to wear headsets during my labor and delivery.
□ I would like to have my birth photographed.
□ I would like to have my birth filmed/videotaped.
□ I would like to wear my glasses or contact lenses unless removal becomes medically necessary.
Pain Relief
□ Please only offer pain medications if I ask for them.
□ Please suggest pain management options for me if you see that I am too uncomfortable to handle the pain.
□ Please discuss pain management options for me as soon as possible.
□ After medical guidance for pain relief, I would appreciate some private time with my partner to discuss which pain management technique or medication I would like to use.
I am prepared to try to handle pain with these natural and alternative methods (check all that apply)
□ Breathing techniques
□ Distraction techniques
□ Hypnotherapy
□ Acupressure
□ Acupuncture
□ Massage
□ Visual imaging work
□ Color therapy
□ Deep (or guided) relaxation
□ Water/bath/shower
If I choose to use drugs, my preference is
□ Walking epidural
□ Classic epidural
□ Sedative
□ Tranquilizer
□ arcotics
Other Considerations
□ Ideally, I want to be able to walk around and move as I wish while in labor.
□ I would like to feel unrestricted in accessing any sounds of chanting, grunting, or moaning during labor.
□ Please always keep my door closed while I am in labor.
Monitoring
□ I prefer the baby to be monitored.
□ Continuous fetal monitoring Intermittently monitored to allow for as much mobility as possible
I have prepared for this birth with
□ Lamaze techniques
□ Bradley techniques
□ Childbirth Hypnosis
□ Other
□ I am seeking my practitioner's assistance with this technique.
Second Stage Labor
□ As long as the baby and I are healthy, I prefer to have no time limits on pushing.
□ If pushing for more than several hours, I am open to medical intervention in 2nd stage labor.
I would like to be encouraged to try the following different positions for labor (check all that apply)
□ Squatting
□ Classic semi-recline
□ Hands and knees
□ On the toilet
□ Standing upright
□ Side Lying
□ Whatever feels right at the time
Enemas
□ I will ask for an enema if I feel that I need one.
□ I would like to have an enema upon being admitted.
Episiotomy
□ I prefer to have an episiotomy
□ I prefer to have no episiotomy and risk tearing (unless I'm having a medical emergency)
□ If I need an episiotomy, I prefer a pressure episiotomy.
To help prevent tearing, please
□ Apply hot compresses
□ Apply oil
□ Use perineal massage
□ Encourage me to breathe properly for slower crowning.
Other labor considerations
□ If possible, please allow the shoulders and body of my baby to be born spontaneously, on their own.
□ Please use a local anesthetic for repairs.
□ No stirrups please unless I'm having a medical emergency
The Delivery Misc. (check all that apply)
□ I would like to view the birth using a mirror.
□ I would like to touch my baby's head as it crowns.
□ I would like to catch my baby and pull it onto my abdomen as it is born.
□ I would like my partner to catch my baby. I would like the doctor to catch my baby.
□ For spiritual or religious reasons, I would like the room to be totally silent as the baby is born.
□ I would like for our baby to hear our voices first.
□ I prefer to have the lights dimmed for delivery or, if it is daylight, to access only natural light.
Pushing
□ It's important to me to push instinctively. I do not want to be told how or when to push. □ Please tell me when to push
After Baby is Born
□ As long as my baby is healthy, I would like my baby placed immediately skin-to-skin on my abdomen with a warm blanket over it.
□ Please do not separate me and my baby until after my baby has successfully breastfed on both breasts.
□ Please delay all essential routine procedures on my baby until after the bonding and breastfeeding period (i.e., bathing).
□ Please place my baby on pulse oximetry after 24 hours of life to rule out any obvious heart conditions present at that time, as recommended by the federal government, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Heart Association.
Cesarean
□ If a C-Section is not an emergency, please give my partner and me time alone to think about it before asking for our written consent.
□ My partner is to be present at all times during the c-section. Ideally, I would like to remain conscious during the procedure.
□ I would like the baby to be shown to me immediately after it's born.
□ I would like to have contact with the baby as soon as it is possible in the delivery room. I prefer to have a hand free to touch the baby.
□ We would like to photograph or film the operation as the baby comes out. We would like to film or photograph only the baby after delivery.
□ If possible, please discuss anesthesia options with me (including morphine options). I prefer a low transverse incision on my abdomen and uterus.
□ Please respect my wishes to be quiet during the operation (e.g., avoiding "small talk" with other practitioners in the room).
Recovery (check all that apply)
□ If my baby is healthy, I would like to hold my baby and nurse it immediately in recovery.
I would like to sign any waivers necessary to permit me to be with my baby in recovery.
□ As long as my baby is healthy, I would like my partner to be the baby's constant source of attention until I am free to bond with it (i.e., holding, skin-to-skin contact, etc.).
□ I would like my baby to be sent to the nursery while I am in recovery.
Please pay special attention to our nursing needs in recovery.
□ I may need some extra help nursing after the operation.
□ I would like to have my catheter and IV removed ASAP after my recovery period.
□ Please discuss with me what I can expect to feel immediately following the procedure. □ Please discuss my post-operative pain medication options with me before or immediately following the procedure.
Third Stage Labor
□ Please wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it is clamped.
□ Please allow my partner to cut the umbilical cord.
□ I would like to bank my baby's cord blood and have made arrangements for this procedure prior to the birth.
Placenta (check all that apply)
□ I would prefer for the placenta to be born spontaneously without the use of pitocin, and/or controlled traction on the umbilical cord.
□ I would like to have routine pitocin given to me after the placenta is born.
□ I would like to delay routine pitocin after the placenta is born unless there are any signs of hemorrhaging. I would like the option of taking home the placenta.
Newborn Procedures
□ If the baby has any problems, I would like my partner to be present with the baby at all times, if possible.
□ I would like to have routine newborn procedures delayed until bonding and breastfeeding have occurred.
□ I would like all newborn routine procedures to be performed in my presence.
□ I would like all newborn routine procedures to be performed right away.
Administration of Eye Drops
□ I would like my baby to have eye drops administered immediately after birth.
□ I would like to delay the administration of eye drops until after breastfeeding and bonding has occurred.
□ Please do not administer eye drops to my baby, I am willing to sign a formal waiver if need be.
Vitamin K
□ I would like my baby to receive a routine injection of vitamin K immediately after birth.
□ I would like to delay the administration of vitamin K up to 1 hour after birth, after breastfeeding and bonding, unless medically necessary.
□ I would like only the orally administered vitamin K to be given to my baby.
□ Please do not administer vitamin K to my baby, I am willing to sign a formal waiver if need be.
Immunizations
□ I prefer any immunizations be postponed to a later time.
□ Immunize the baby according to normal procedures.
Bathing Baby
□ Please bathe my baby after we have had time to bond.
□ Please do not bathe my baby at all.
□ We would like to give our baby his/her first bath using our own non-toxic baby products.
Circumcision
□ Please do not circumcise my baby.
□ I would like my baby circumcised.
Other circumcision options
□ Please use a local anesthetic.
□ Please delay procedure as long as possible
PKU
□ Please do routine PKU Testing after 24 hours
□ We decline routine PKU testing at the hospital and have made other arrangements for this procedure at a later date this week.
□ We would like to wait, and delay the PKU testing until we are ready to leave the hospital
Feedings
□ My baby is to be exclusively breastfed.
□ My baby is to be formula-fed exclusively.
□ I would like to combine breastfeeding and formula feeding.
□ Please offer guidance on the issue of formula versus breastfeeding.
□ I would like to see a lactation consultant as soon as possible for further recommendations and guidance.
Do not offer my baby the following without my consent (check all that apply)
□ Formula Pacifiers
□ Any artificial nipples
□ Sugar water
If my baby's health is in jeopardy, I would like (check all that apply)
□ To be transported with my baby if possible.
□ My partner to go with the baby.
□ To breastfeed or express my milk for my baby.
□ To have as much bodily contact with my baby as possible.
□ To be offered a room at the hospital for the duration of my baby's stay (within reason).
I would like my in-hospital routine to be
□ Full rooming in, no separation, no exceptions, unless my baby is sick.
□ Delayed rooming in until I have had time to rest.
□ Partial rooming in. I prefer to have the baby sent to the nursery at night so that I can rest.
□ Nursery care: I would like the nursery to fully care for my baby and bring it to me for feedings.
My Hospital Stay
□ I prefer that my hospital stay be
□ As short as it can be.
□ As long as it can be.
Other hospital preferences
□ I prefer a private room.
□ I prefer to have my partner stay with me for the duration of my hospital stay.
□ would like my other children (regardless of age) to be allowed to visit with me for as long as they wish or as long as hospital policy permits.
□ I would like my guests to be permitted to stay as long as they wish.
□ I want privacy during my stay and for my guests to limit the time they are visiting me.
Additional Notes
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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.
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